Decorative appliques mounted on articles

ABSTRACT

An article such as a ring, a clasp, a barrette or a hair brush is decorated with one or more appliques by forming passages in the article such as converging or diverging pairs of passages or curved passages. Projections extend from the back of a decorative applique. Manual pressure is applied to the applique to drive the projections into the passages, deforming them and retaining the decorative applique on the article. The present invention relates to articles having decorative appliques and to methods of applying such appliques. An object of this invention resides in providing a novel, widely applicable, simple and economical method of mounting decorative appliques on various articles, especially where the appliques are alphabetic characters that are to form a monogram or a name. A related object of the invention resides in providing a novel method of mounting such appliques wherein neither special tools nor special skills are needed. A further object resides in providing novel articles bearing appliques secured quickly and in a novel highly effective manner, the construction enabling the appliques to be selected from an available stock, as in a retail store at the time of purchase. A particular feature of the invention relates to alphabetic characters and novel mounting means therefor, enabling the characters to be mounted fast, accurately, and without resort to adhesives, or to the use of tools or any operation requiring operator skill. Pursuant to one form of construction exemplifying the invention, articles to be decorated can be available for sale together with a wide selection of decorative appliques, especially alphabetic characters, of attractive design and finish. In this form of construction, each applique has plural readily deformable integral legs that can enter passages in the article. The passages are divergent or convergent or otherwise nonparallel. The legs become deformed as the applique is pressed toward and against the article. The legs have a reasonably tight fit in the passages. The tight fit may be enhanced by providing slender deformable ribs along the legs, making the legs initially oversize compared to the width or diameter of the passages. In a preferred form, they are of a material such as copper, brass, lead or white metal alloy that deforms readily as a result of the modest pressure needed in the mounting operation. In a modification, the appliques are of a plastic such as nylon having integral legs of yieldable, initially nonparallel legs. The legs may be as divergent or as convergent as the legreceiving passages, or more divergent or convergent than the legreceiving passages. At the start of the mounting procedure, the tips of the legs are initially forced to assume the same spacing as the openings at the tops of the leg-receiving passages. Whether of metal or of plastic, the appliques are merely pressed against the mounting areas of the article, using thumb pressure. The legs enter the leg-receiving passages and assume the shapes of the passages, whether convergent, divergent, skew, etc., and hold the appliques securely in place. The passages that are to receive the legs of the applique can be curved, to special advantage. In that case, and particularly where the appliques are small or are located in position by a receiving frame or other locating means, it is feasible for each applique to have only one leg. Ideally, no more than thumb pressure is required for mounting the appliques. Lack of tools or special cements will not interfere with the quick and economical mounting of the appliques by wholly unskilled persons. Neither the articles nor the appliques are exposed to risk of damage during the mounting operation. The mounted appliques are held in position securely.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Abraham Goodman 101 Central Park W.,New York, NY. 10023 [21] Appl. No. 742,696 [22] Filed July 5, 1968 [45]Patented Jan. 11,1972

[54] DECORATIVE APPLIQUES MOUNTED 0N ARTICLES 19 Claims, 14 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 161/7, 24/95, 24/204, 24/208, 40/140,161/32, 161/114, 161/18[51] Int. Cl A44c 13/00 [50] Field of Search 161/18, 109,114, 7, 32;24/95-96, 208.3, 204, 213; 40/140, 143-144 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,869,314 7/1932 Patinot 40/140 1,737,375 11/1929 King40/143 UX Primary Examiner-Philip Dier Attorney-Paul S. Martin ABSTRACT:An article such as a ring, a clasp, a barrette or a hair brush isdecorated with one or more appliques by forming passages in the articlesuch as converging or diverging pairs of passages or curved passages.Projections extend from the back ofa decorative applique. Manualpressure is applied to the applique to drive the projections into thepassages, deforming them and retaining the decorative applique on thearticle.

PATENTEUJAM 1 1972 3634-178 man 2 [IF 2 I FIG-8 F/GJO //fla mvmmx.Ae/fmw/v 6000/11 5 aw g ATTORNEY DECORATIVE APPLIQUES MOUNTED ONARTICLES The present invention relates to articles having decorativeappliques and to methods of applying such appliques.

An object of this invention resides in providing a novel, widelyapplicable, simple and economical method of mounting decorativeappliques on various articles, especially where the appliques arealphabetic characters that are to form a monogram or a name. A relatedobject of the invention resides in providing a novel method of mountingsuch appliques wherein neither special tools nor special skills areneeded.

A further object resides in providing novel articles bearing appliquessecured quickly and in a novel highly effective manner, the constructionenabling the appliques to be selected from an available stock, as in aretail store at the time of purchase.

A particular feature of the invention relates to alphabetic charactersand novel mounting means therefor, enabling thecharacters to be mountedfast, accurately, and without resort to adhesives, or to the use oftools or any operation requiring operator skill.

Pursuant to one form of construction exemplifying the invention,articles to be decorated can be available for sale together with a wideselection of decorative appliques, especially alphabetic characters, ofattractive design and finish. In this form of construction, eachapplique has plural readily deformable integral legs that can enterpassages in the article. The passages are divergent or convergent orotherwise nonparallel. The legs become deformed as the applique ispressed toward and against the article. The legs have a reasonably tightfit in the passages. The tight fit may be enhanced by providing slenderdeformable ribs along the legs, making the legs initially oversizecompared to the width or diameter of the passages. In a preferred form,they are of a material such as copper, brass, lead or white metal alloythat deforms readily as a result of the modest pressure needed in themounting operation.

In a modification, the appliques are of a plastic such as nylon havingintegral legs of yieldable, initially nonparallel legs. The legs may beas divergent or as convergent as the legreceiving passages, or moredivergent or convergent than the leg-receiving passages. At the start ofthe mounting procedure, the tips of the legs are initially forced toassume the same spacing as the openings at the tops of the leg-receivingpassages.

Whether of metal or of plastic, the appliques are merely pressed againstthe mounting areas of the article, using thumb pressure. The legs enterthe leg-receiving passages and assume the shapes of the passages,whether convergent, divergent, skew, etc., and hold the appliquessecurely in place.

The passages that are to receive the legs of the applique can be curved,to special advantage. In that case, and particularly where the appliquesare small or are located in position by a receiving frame or otherlocating means, it is feasible for each applique to have only one leg.

Ideally, no more than thumb pressure is required for mounting theappliques. Lack of tools or special cements will not interfere with thequick and economical mounting of the appliques by wholly unskilledpersons. Neither the articles nor the appliques are exposed to risk ofdamage during the mounting operation. The mounted appliques are held inposition securely.

The nature of the invention, including the foregoing and other objects,advantages and novel features, will be better appreciated from thefollowing detailed description of several presently preferredembodiments illustrating the application of various aspects of theinvention. These embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is the rear view of a hair brush, hand mirror, or like article,embodying features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of the article inFIG. ll, as viewed from the line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective of parts of the article of FIGS. I and2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective of parts of a modification of thearticle of FIGS. 1-3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are cross sections of a finger ring along mutuallyperpendicular planes, as a further embodiment of certain features of theinvention;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section of parts of the ring ofFIGS. 5 and 6, viewed from the plane 7-7 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is the front view of a tie clasp as a further embodiment ofcertain aspects of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the tie clasp of FIG. 8, parts being brokenaway and shown in cross section;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are front and side views of a barrette as a furtherembodiment of certain features of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross section of the barrette of FIGS. 10 and 11, as viewedfrom the plane 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross section of a modification of theembodiments in FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 12, as viewed (for example)from section 2-2 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section transverse to a leg inany of the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1-13.

In FIG. 1, the article shown has a handle 10 in which there is a cavity12 containing a pair of inserts M. The fit of the inserts in the cavitymay be tight or an adhesive may be used, or any other expedient may beadopted for securing the inserts in the cavity or they may beincorporated in the article in a molding operation. Decorative units 16are shown applied to the handle 10. These applied units or appliquesinclude a body portion 18 whose underface is generally flat in thisembodiment and fits against a flat area of handle 10 surrounding inserts14. Legs 20 of each applique 16 diverge in the assembly (FIG. 2). Thelegs are received in passages defined by complementary grooves 22 formedin the confronting faces of inserts 14. The two-part insert might bemolded (or cast) as one piece, except that this would complicate themanufacture of the insert.

A projection 21 extending downward from body portion 18 is locatedasymmetrically relative to legs 20, and projection 21 is off centerrelative to body 18 of the applique. A cavity 23 is formed in one partof two-part insert 14, located to receive projection 21. when the legsenter passages 22. This feature insures same-side-up insertion of allthe appliques, and is especially useful where the appliques arealphabetic characters.

Three appliques are used to make up a monogram in the example shown inFIG. 1. Their lateral edges abut one another. All of the edges slopetoward the lower face of the body portion. These features minimize thepossibility of careless blows knocking the appliques of? the article.

The appliques may be purely decorative, but monogram characters are ofspecial importance. These characters may be flush with the body of theapplique, or they may be grooved or in relief, contrasting with theadjoining area of the body. The finish of the appliques is important totheir decorative purpose. Where the appliques are of metal, a brightplating of nickel, gold or the like is preferred, although colorfulcoatings and designs in contrasting colors or textures are alsocontemplated.

Appliques of a series having different designs or characters should beof the same size and shape, and the legs 20 should extend fromcorresponding locations of all the different appliques. A problem wouldexist in this respect if body 18 did not provide an area containing thedecoration, as in the case of a series of difi'erent decorations eachconsisting of an openwork character. Where openwork characters areneeded, it would be difficult to provide the same pattern of supportingareas for legs 20 in all the appliques of the series, e.g., where theletter I is involved. Imaginative design modification in each case canmeet this problem, so appliques with openwork designs are broadly withinpresent contemplation.

Legs 20 of each applique in FIGS. 1-3 diverge. That they are notparallel to each other is important, for if they were parallel, thensome special technique, or a special adhesive, would be required that iseffective and compatible with the particular materials of the appliquesand the inserts. The nonparallel legs 20 form a purely mechanical butsecure means of retention.

In assembling the decorated article, a first step involves placinginserts 14 in the cavity 12, and suitably securing them in place as bymeans of an adhesive, unless they are so made as to be tight orotherwise self-locking in the recess. Altematively, the insert may bemolded into the handle 10. The bottoms of passages 22 are closed, andwill not fill with plastic in case the article is molded with the insertin place. Since the mounting of the insert in the handle is ordinarilycarried out by the manufacturer, any convenient technique may be usedfor fixing the insert in the article.

Legs 20 of the appliques of FIG. 3 are parallel at the start of themounting operation. The free ends of the legs are inserted into the openends of the passages formed by grooves 22, and moderate frontal pressureon the applique forces legs 20 to follow the passages. The legs arepreferably of a material that becomes permanently deformed, so that assoon as the body 18 of the applique reaches the surface of article 10,nothing further is needed to complete the assembly. In case of anapplique being applied upside down, projection 21 would reach a fiatarea of insert 14, thus being rejected. With right-side-up mounting ofan applique, projection 21 would enter cavity 23, permitting fullmounting of the applique. Choice of the group of appliques to be mountedis left to the individual. The extreme simplicity of the operation makesit eminently practical for the choice of appliques to be deferred to thetime of purchase in a retail store.

The body and legs of each applique 16 are of one integral, unitarypiece, and in a preferred and specially advantageous embodiment they aremade by molding or casting a readily deformable metal such as lead, asuitable white-metal alloy or the like. The molded unit is given anattractive surface finish. The legs of the applique take a set whenpushed into oppositely slanted passages, and thus are effective tosecure the appliques to the article. The legs fit tightly in thepassages, but a force-fit is avoided. As a practical detail, the legs donot completely fill the passages in the sense that cast metal fills adie, for if such complete filling were wanted, then an inordinatelylarge force would be required during insertion and this would deform ordestroy the applique.

The whole article is readily made by low-cost large-volume manufacturingoperations. A broad range of materials are suitable. Relatively soft andhighly ductile metal is the preferred material for the appliques, butvarious plastics may be substituted, such as a suitable grade of nylon.Where the material is plastic the legs 20, advantageously, are initiallydivergent. Inserts 14 may be made of cast metal or of a molded plastic.In any case, both the inserts and the appliques should be molded forlarge-volume low-cost production. The term molded" is used herein asmeaning formed in a mold without requiring either heat or pressure, orusing heat or pressure, or both. Legs 20 are integral with body 18 ofthe appliques. The term integral is used here to denote the continuityof the same material and freedom from joints between the legs and thebody. Such integral appliques are readily made by molding. The articleitself is also molded for uniformity and economy, but the manufacturingmethods to be used for making the article may be decided by otherconsiderations.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modification of the embodiment of FIGS. l-3. Inplace of two companion inserts 14 to form passages for the legs of theapplique, the passages are formed in the embodiment of FIG. 4 by thegrooves 22a in insert 14a, bounded by the walls of cavity 12 in article10. Four legs 20a extending integrally from body 18a can readily beaccommodated. FIG. 4 shows further that the passages may be curved.Where it is feasible to make curved passages, this is of some advantage.Thus, one may consider what happens when legs 20 of a white-metalapplique are first being inserted into passages formed by the grooves 22of FIG. 3. The tip of each leg first bends outward in relation to theadjoining initially straight part of the leg. As the leg is pusheddeeper, the justbent region is straightened in the straight passage 22while a bend forms in another part of the leg. The progressivestraightening of each just-bent portion of the leg requires some effort.The material chosen should retain its strength after this treatment.However, the curved shape of the passages in the embodiment of FIG. 4avoids any weakening that might result from the progressive bendingfollowing by straightening of the bends in the legs as they are driveninto the passages. Moreover, the curved legs provided firm retention. InFIG. 4, body 18a of the applique has a recess 23a and insert 14a has acorresponding projection 21a for insuring right-side-up mounting of allthe appliques.

The body 18 of the applique in FIGS. [-4 is flat, although it need notbe flat as will be seen below. It extends outside the crevice 14 asindicated by outline 18' in FIG. I and conceals the crevice.Accordingly, legs 20 are located at parts of body 18 that are spacedinward of the margin. A similar effect is achieved where the crevice isaligned with the outline 18, thus obscuring the crevice.

Four legs are shown, including a pair of legs at the rear side of insert14a as viewed in the drawing, and a pair at the front side of theinsert. Because of the curvature of the legs, the use of nonparallellegs becomes less important. Therefore two legs preferably curving inopposite directions (as at the diagonals of the applique) can be verysecure where the applique is too small for four legs.

FIGS. 5-7 show features of the invention applied to a finger ring 1012.Body 18b of the applique 16b is curved in two directions, approximatingpart of a sphere. Four parallel legs 20b extend from body 18b beforeinsertion into passages 22b. After insertion the legs are no longerparallel, but slope along diagonals toward each other, in the manner ofthe comers of a pyramid. Inserts 14 and 14a of FIGS. 3 and 4 are omittedhere. Passages 22b are formed in the ring itself. A raised frame 24bsurrounds the applique and protects the applique against being defacedand against its being loosened by accidental blows.

The tie clasp 10c of FIGS. 8 and 9 has a protective and decorative frame240 surrounding the flat body portions 18c of the appliques. These arecommonly letters that form a monogram. Legs 20c diverge intocorresponding passages suitably formed in the tie clasp. FIGS. 10-12illustrate a barrette 10d of metal operating parts on a plastic body inwhich divergent passages are formed for legs 20d. These passages areadvantageously formed in the side surfaces of an insert 14d similar tothe inserts l4 and 14a of FIGS. 3 and 4. The insert 14d in FIGS. 10-12can be inserted readily in the rear of plastic body 26d and covered by ametal or plastic strip 28d forming part of the barrette mechanism. Strip28d is then fastened in customary fashion to the body 26d. This fonn ofconstruction has the advantage that both the insert 14d and the cavityin body 26d to receive the insert can have lateral faces that are notparallel (see FIGS. 3 and 4 for comparison) but diverge from the topsurface toward the bottom. No tight fit or adhesive is needed to holdthe parts in assembly. Further, the passages to receive legs 20d and thelegs in those passages are not only slanted and optionally curved, inthe fonn of grooves 22a, FIG. 4, but in addition the legs and thegrooves at opposite sides of the insert diverge in relation to eachother, as shown in FIG. 12. This enhances the retention of the appliqueand makes possible the use of shorter legs in a thinner body 10d thanwould be effective with parallel lateral faces of the cavity and theinsert. In the same manner, four diagonally diverging or convergingpassages for four-legged appliques can be used even when no insert 14 isused.

The body portions of the appliques in FIG. 12 slope to thin edges andmerge with the edge contour of the barrette, for avoiding sidewiseimpacts tending to loosen the applique.

FIG. 13 shows a handle 10c with a two-part insert I4e divided in themanner of insert 14 in FIGS. 1-3, having curved passages (as in FIG. 4)for receiving legs 20e of appliques I6e. Each applique has only one leg202 that extends integrally from an offcenter part of body 182, assuringconsistent rightside-up mounting that is of importance in the case ofalphabetic characters. The cavity in handle 10s that receives insert 142is made deep enough to form a frame about bodies Me. This featurecoupled with edge-to-edge abutment of the straight sides of successivebodies It inhibits the natural tendency of the appliques to be twistedout of their installed positions. This frame feature is not essentialsince mating cavityand-locating projections can be added if needed, asshown at 21, 23 in H6. 3 and 21a, 23a in F1G.4l.

FIG. 14 shows how a leg f (representing legs of metal or plasticappliques in all the F168.) can have a number of deformable lengthwiseribs 20 (three are shown) that make the transverse dimensions of thelegs oversize compared with the diameter of passage 22f in the body orinsert that is to receive the leg. This means that the legs, whenpressed into the passages using only moderate pressure, can occupy thetransverse dimensions of the passage without looseness. The legs do notfill up the passages, since in practice that would necessitate a greatamount of force in inserting the legs. Moreover, it would almostinevitable damage the finish of the insert, possibly destroying thewhole applique.

In each of the embodiments above, the described appliques may be mountedon relatively frail or fragile or deformable materials or slendersupports. The described construction avoids possible damage to eitherthe support or the applique that could occur if riveting or the likewere needed in mounting the appliques. The leg-receiving passages areaccessible at their outer ends where the legs are admitted, but thepassages can be closed or blind at the opposite end since no access isneeded to the tips of the legs during the mounting operation. This meansthat there is an unmarred surface at the side of the article oppositethe applique, and it means that short-legged appliques can be mounted onrelatively thick articles. Decorating colors and set gems may be used onthe bodies of the appliques. The construction and mounting methoddescribed are effective for a wide range of sizes, but are especiallyadvantageous in the case of applique bodies of about three-sixteenthsinch square.

Various presently preferred embodiments of the invention in its variousaspects are described specifically above, but manifestly modificationsin matter of detail and varied applications of the novel features willoccur to those skilled in the art; and it is therefore appropriate thatthe invention should be construed broadly in accordance with its fullspirit and scope.

What is claimed is:

1. A decorated article including a base having plural elongatednonparallel passages extending therein from openings in a face thereof,and a decorative preformed applique directly abutting against the faceof the base, said applique having a body and preformed readily bendablelegs projecting from points on the rear of the body corresponding tosaid openings, and into and nearly conforming transversely to saidnonparallel passages.

2. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said appliquehas legs of a highly ductile metal.

3. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base hasa frame containing said applique and in abutment with at least part ofthe outline of the applique.

4. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1 having pluralappliques each of the form as aforesaid and having generally rectangularoutlines, said appliques being disposed in a row and the successiveappliques in the row having abutting lateral edges, thereby enhancingthe stable position ing of said appliques.

5. A decorated article in accordance with claim 41, wherein the body ofsaid applique has three-dimensional decorative portions.

6. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base hasa cavity and an insert in said cavity, said insert having pluralpassage-forming grooves in each of two opposite lateral surfacesthereof, said grooves cooperating with respective walls of the cavity toform two rows of said passages.

7. A decorated article in accordance with claim 6, wherein said insertcomprises two parts having confronting lateral surfaces havingcomplementary grooves therein forming said passa es. I

8. decorated article in accordance with clalm 1, wherein the rearsurface of the body of the applique is flush against the face of thebase and wherein the front surface of the body of the applique slopes atthe edges thereof substantially to said rear surface, for avoidingsidewise impacts that might loosen the applique.

9. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein the body andlegs of said applique are integral and of highly ductile metal.

10. A decorated article in accordance with claim ll, having pluralappliques each of the aforesaid form the legs of which extend from thebodies thereof in duplicate patterns into corresponding duplicatepatterns of said openings in said base.

11. A decorated article in accordance with claim 10, wherein saidarticle includes means having grooves in at least one lateral surfacethereof for providing said passages and said openings.

12. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said legshave longitudinal ribs thereon tightly bearing against the surfaces ofthe leg-receiving passages.

13. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, having pluralappliques, wherein said body of each of said appliques has anasymmetrically located orienting formation at its under side and saidbase has a correspondingly located complementary orienting formation foreach said applique for assuring mounting of said appliques ispredetermined relation to each other.

14. A decorated article, including a base, having at least one curvedpassage extending therein, and at least one decorative appliqueincluding a body directly abutting against said base, said appliquehaving at least one curved leg of readily bendable material tightlycontained in a corresponding curved passage of said base.

15. A decorative article in accordance with claim 14, wherein said basehas an insert providing a side face having a curved groove thereinforming said curved passage.

16. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, having pluralappliques, said base including a main member having a cavity defined bylateral walls opening into said face and at least one insert largelyoccupying said cavity and flush with said face, at least said one insertand said cavity wall having confronting surfaces extending to said face,at least one of said confronting surfaces being grooved so as to form asaid passage, said appliques having legs spaced inward of the edges ofthe bodies thereof so that the bodies cover the outline of the insert atsaid face.

17. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said baseincludes a main member having a cavity defined by lateral walls thatdiverge away from said face, an insert snugly received in said cavityand having lateral walls correspondingly diverging away from said face,and retaining means at the rear of the insert fixed to said base andholding the insert in said cavity, said passages being defined bygrooves in at least certain ones of said lateral walls.

18. A decorative article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said basehas a frame conforming to at least part of the outline of the applique,and in which the base of the article has a cavity formed therein withinsaid frame, said base in cluding an insert received in said cavity andhaving lateral surfaces essentially conforming to lateral surfaces ofthe cavity, at least one of said surfaces being grooved to form at leastone of said passages.

19. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein each saidapplique has a plastic body and yieldable plastic legs integraltherewith that are at least as nonparallel to each other initially assaid passages.

1. A decorated article including a base having plural elongatednonparallel passages extending therein from openings in a face thereof,and a decorative preformed applique directly abutting against the faceof the base, said applique having a body and preformed readily bendablelegs projecting from points on the rear of the body corresponding tosaid openings, and into and nearly conforming transversely to saidnonparallel passages.
 2. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1,wherein said applique has legs of a highly ductile metal.
 3. A decoratedarticle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base has a framecontaining said applique and in abutment with at least part of theoutline of the applique.
 4. A decorated article in accordance with claim1 having plural appliques each of the form as aforesaid and havinggenerally rectangular outlines, said appliques being disposed in a rowand the successive appliques in the row having abutting lateral edges,thereby enhancing the stable positioning of said appliques.
 5. Adecorated article in accordance with claim 4, wherein the body of saidapplique has three-dimensional decorative portions.
 6. A decoratedarticle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base has a cavity andan insert in said cavity, said insert having plural passage-forminggrooves in each of two opposite lateral surfaces thereof, said groovescooperating with respective walls of the cavity to form two rows of saidpassages.
 7. A decorated article in accordance with claim 6, whereinsaid insert comprises two parts having confronting lateral surfaceshaving complementary grooves therein forming said passages.
 8. Adecorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rear surfaceof the body of the applique is flush against the face of the base andwherein the front surface of the body of the applique slopes at theedges thereof substantially to said rear surface, for avoiding sidewiseimpacts that might loosen the applique.
 9. A decorated article inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the body and legs of said applique areintegral and of highly ductile metal.
 10. A decorated article inaccordance with claim 1, having plural appliques each of the aforesaidform the legs of which extend from the bodies thereof in duplicatepatterns into corresponding duplicate patterns of said openings in saidbase.
 11. A decorated article in accordance with claim 10, wherein saidarticle includes means having grooves in at least one lateral surfacethereof for providing said passages and said openings.
 12. A decoratedarticle in accordance with claim 1, wherein said legs have longitudinalribs thereon tightly beaRing against the surfaces of the leg-receivingpassages.
 13. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, havingplural appliques, wherein said body of each of said appliques has anasymmetrically located orienting formation at its under side and saidbase has a correspondingly located complementary orienting formation foreach said applique for assuring mounting of said appliques ispredetermined relation to each other.
 14. A decorated article, includinga base, having at least one curved passage extending therein, and atleast one decorative applique including a body directly abutting againstsaid base, said applique having at least one curved leg of readilybendable material tightly contained in a corresponding curved passage ofsaid base.
 15. A decorative article in accordance with claim 14, whereinsaid base has an insert providing a side face having a curved groovetherein forming said curved passage.
 16. A decorated article inaccordance with claim 1, having plural appliques, said base including amain member having a cavity defined by lateral walls opening into saidface and at least one insert largely occupying said cavity and flushwith said face, at least said one insert and said cavity wall havingconfronting surfaces extending to said face, at least one of saidconfronting surfaces being grooved so as to form a said passage, saidappliques having legs spaced inward of the edges of the bodies thereofso that the bodies cover the outline of the insert at said face.
 17. Adecorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein said base includesa main member having a cavity defined by lateral walls that diverge awayfrom said face, an insert snugly received in said cavity and havinglateral walls correspondingly diverging away from said face, andretaining means at the rear of the insert fixed to said base and holdingthe insert in said cavity, said passages being defined by grooves in atleast certain ones of said lateral walls.
 18. A decorative article inaccordance with claim 1, wherein said base has a frame conforming to atleast part of the outline of the applique, and in which the base of thearticle has a cavity formed therein within said frame, said baseincluding an insert received in said cavity and having lateral surfacesessentially conforming to lateral surfaces of the cavity, at least oneof said surfaces being grooved to form at least one of said passages.19. A decorated article in accordance with claim 1, wherein each saidapplique has a plastic body and yieldable plastic legs integraltherewith that are at least as nonparallel to each other initially assaid passages.